Keyboards are probably one of the most sensitive apps on our phones, having access and handling practically everything we type. I’ve stopped using keyboards that require network access and started using only opensource apps a few years ago. What are your favorite, privacy-respecting android keyboards?
So far, I’ve found these alternatives:
- AnySoftKeyboard. I’ve used ASK for years and I’ve always been very happy with it. Probably the autocorrect could use some improvement. It’s definitely the most mature opensource keyboard out there, with the most features and configurations
- OpenBoard. The one I’m using right now. Easy and fast to configure, quite good auto-correct
- FlorisBoard. Haven’t had the time to try it out extensively so I don’t have any opinion about it
- SimpleKeyboard. It offers the bare minimum one could ask from a keyboard but sometimes you don’t actually need more than that
- AOSP keyboard and LineageOS’ fork, that is, the keyboards that come with some ROMs out of the box. They’re probably what a lo of people use
These are the alternatives I’ve been considering. If you know about other opensource keyboards to extend this list, pleas let me know
Pros/cons of each one of the keyboards I’ve used, based on my usage and preferences:
AFK
- + the copy/cut/paste tool that I could invoke by swiping up from the space bar
- + configurable input shortcuts
- + smaller extra top bar being (and configurable, not just with numbers)
- + the ability to backup your settings, shortcuts and dictionaries
- + plenty of themes
- - maybe the settings are a bit too overwhelming
OpenBoard
- + it’s better at predicting words in my experience (maybe just placebo?)
- + “drag to delete” gesture on the delete key
- + configurable input shortcuts
- + “swipe to move the cursor” gesture on the spacebar
- - no select/copy/cut/paste tools
FlorisBoard
- + theme editor
- + select/copy/cut/paste tools (maybe hidden behind too many taps)
- + ability to show the numpad using the “dialer layout” instead of having all the numbers on the same row
- + “drag to delete” gesture on the delete key
- + “swipe to move the cursor” gesture on the spacebar
- + actively developed
- - no autocorrections (yet)
I use an OpenBoard fork which includes Google swipe typing.
Same, I love it. Here is a link to it if anyone wants it.
The changes couldn’t be upstreamed due to the relevant code coming from an unlicensed repository right?
I believe so. Very few Foss keyboards have swipe gestures because it needs to be created from scratch.
I rely on swipe, sadly this makes Gboard still the only real option for me.
Anysoft swipe is really bad in comparison. Also I’m not sure if the app is still maintained.
I had my hopes up for floris and still have. Their swipe actually works great but only in English and not much happens there for months now.
The lineage fork of AOSP Keyboard has swipe and while it works pretty good, the bad autocorrection destroys all the other good points of it.
Used gboard for the longest time and juat recently managed to move on to florisboard. It lacks some features but has enough other niceities on its own that are just enough to justify the move based on functionality
You can use my setup as a starting point if you want, it is a proper oled theme with no colors or bright surfaces, behavior very gboard-like. I use sayboard for stt (dictating). https://cloud.redjard.org/s/redjards-florisboard-setup_zip/download/redjards florisboard setup.zip
Is the swipe good? Are the autocorrections good? Can you have a number line and keys have symbols on long press? Is the audio dictation quick and easy tonuse and doesn’t go to a second screen?
Essentially I’d love a glkeyboaes just like gboaes but open source and off network.
I think no autocorrections (for now). I never used them so idk.
Swipe is different to gboard, but imo better. gboard tried some things with snapping to certain parts, but I always found it unintuitive, it mostly got in my way. Florisboards swipes are more “plain” as in that I find them very predictable.
You can add a permanent number line. It also won’t vanish on random inputs like gboards does. Clipboard has arbitrary history size, and is also available everywhere (It annoyed me to no end to not have it for password fields in gboard).
Dictation is quick, it will switch the keyboard, but not the screen. To continue typing you need to press one button to return the keys.
With the symbols and layouts you have far more choices. I could have 1-1 recreated my gboard, but I found an even better layout (still need to readjust to it tho).
Thank you!
been using aosp keyboard tbh
I use Unexpected Keyboard, although it does not have autocorrect.
I’m triyng florisboard, but I hate the lack of suggestions.
Definitely Florisboard, I’ve tried all of them and I wouldn’t switch back to any of them, it has really goo aesthetics and you can customize its appearance even more (although this isn’t finished yet and could be done better) and they are constantly updating it and from what I’ve seen they want to a add a lot of cool features like gliding writing, they already support some gestures and so on. Regarding language support they don’t support a lot already but they generally ad a few with every update.
It’s stable enough to use everyday? I’m using OpenBoard but maybe I give it a try later.
Yeah, it works flawlessly, the only thing is that it doesn’t have predictive text but maybe now it was added. My phone has been broken since the last 2 weeks or so.
Okay, thank you!
I’m using florisboard, though I think the project is dead, there hasn’t been any activity in the github since last year
FlorisBoard. love it, coming from gboard
FlorisBoard
I’ve tested ASK, SimpleBoard, and OpenBoard, and I’m currently using the latter. I’ve just installed FlorisBoard. Although it’s in alpha stage, it seems to be pretty decent.
AnySoft is great for languages that use Latin characters. For some of my friends, its lack of Japanese and Chinese support is an issue, but since I don’t normally type in those languages, AnySoft is great for me.
It also lacks Bangla keyboard so that’s that.
My requirements for any keyboard is that both Esperanto and Tajik are supported, which rules out most of them, I think.
So, with AnySoft, you can just turn off all predictive text and it still supports any Latin characters. You just have to manually type.
AnySoftKeyboard is nerd friendly and feature rich. I recommend OpenBoard to those migrating from GBoard.
Yeah I like anysoft a lot
AnySoft is pretty great! I especially like that it has the ability to swype. It may not be the best but it’s the only open source keyboard I know that has that capability.
Swipe typing never seemed to work well for me unfortunately, so I just tap type in old school fashion. I am happy with it, though. I hoped swipe typing worked :(
By the way, I created this issue to have keyboard recommendations on Privacy Tools, if anyone is interested to chip in.
I use OpenBoard because I had an easier time (than with ASK) setting up a usable Bépo layout on it.
